Railmotor Trip from Roma Street on 22nd April

Last Sunday Darren dropped over to my place and we then caught the bus into the city.  We then walked to Roma Street Station and up onto Platform 2.  We wanted to see where the Railmotor might be.  There was a chance that it could have been in the headshunt on platform 2 or it was yet to come in from Acacia Ridge.  Well it was sitting in the headshunt.  We were soon joined by PK who was also coming on the trip with us. 

The points were already set to take it to Platform 3.

So we took some photos and then made our way to Platform 3.  The railmotor then made its way to platform 3 and we got some photos with the crew.  The crew were Darren’s mates from Pac Nat days – Ben and Laurie – What a nice bunch they were. 

The crew Ben and Laurie

We also caught up with a few mates on the train.  Bill and his wife and another friend, as well as a number of railway related people that we knew. 

I could not resist taking this photo.  It is Bill and Ben, and it must mean that Darren is Weed.  The old guys will work this out.

Today’s trip was to go to Kyogle for people to disembark, or if they wanted to head down to Nammoona crossing loop and then come back to Kyogle, pick up those who alighted and head back to Roma Street.  We were to be on the 621/721 railmotors from the Railmotor Society at Paterson.  The trip was arranged by the ARHS – Qld Division.  Before leaving I had asked Ben if he could swing an extension through to Casino.  He advised that he was puzzled why we did not go there in the first place, given that Nammoona is about 5km from Casino. 

Initially given an Amber signal.

Then it turned to Green.

The railmotors left Roma Street on time, but then made a slow trip to South Brisbane and then through to Park Road where we stopped for a few minutes.  Ben was like a kid with a new toy.  His frantic use of the horn must have been capturing people’s attention.  We sat there for quite some time.  From then on we were about 17 minutes late.  No doubt we were waiting for a coalie or grainie coming over the Dutton Park Flyover heading to Fisherman Islands.  I thought ‘Oh No’, I hope the rest of the trip is not this unlucky.  Well it was just fantastic from that point on.  Little by little, the crew gradually made up time.  Upon passing through Algester, we were able to see Lefty and Son waving to us from their back yard, just before we passed over Sheep Station Gully.

While at Roma Street, some advised that train tracker was advising that the SCT train was still around Nana Glen and running late.  Well we were eventually advised that we were to cross the SCT freight at Nammoona, and as such, we were to head to Casino.  Good things come to those that wait.  I was able to get some video coming into Casino.  While on the platform at Casino, I thanked Ben for taking us to Casino.  He also advised that the Railmotor hit 115km/h a couple of times on the trip down.  That seemed like it was really hooting.  Not bad for an old girl like the 621/721 is these days.   We eventually reached Casino at the time we were supposed to reach Nammoona Loop. 

Hey look!  Santa was on the train and next to him is Darren.

I took a few shots of the houses that back onto the railway line at Casino, the Hotham Street level crossing, and the Meatworks at Casino.  I also then took a video of passing through Nammoona Loop.  Which is where Ballast is loaded and previously Cattle were loaded/unloaded.  We then had to wait until the SCT freight reached Kyogle Loop before we could head north. 

Up one of the streets at Casino.

Up another street.

The old Cab Company.

Hotham Street level crossing.

Meatworks

Meatworks

More Meatworks.

And again.

Once more,

Finally.

We eventually were given the road and headed off to Kyogle to pick up those that decided to get off there on the way down.  We got there about 18 minutes late and we were underway straight away - 4 minutes down, well for about 3 or 4 kilometres.  When we got to Kyogle Loop, we again had to wait for the SCT freight to reach Loadstone Loop.  From this point in time, we did not see the freight until we passed it, when it was securely sitting in its terminal at Bromelton.

It was amazing passing over the Border Ranges in both directions.  We go photos of the Cougal Spiral, a very nice water fall just south of Glenapp, and who would have guessed it, it poured as we passed through the ranges in both directions.  It was fine on either side of the border.  I let PK have the window set on the way back.  PK captured some absolutely stunning photos, of some bridges, old houses, and the Water Tank at The Risk.  The only thing left there.  PK had a huge zoom on his camera.  The Railmotors got back into Roma Street about 4 minutes early.  They certainly were hooting along the track.

From Cougal Bridge.

The other side of the bridge.

Cougal Spiral

And again.

And again.

Finally

Now from the top looking down

And again.

Crossing the Logan Motorway.

And the other side,

Could belong to someone we know.

The Norco Building at Kyogle by PK.

Another shot of the Norco Building by PK

A great shot of a bridge by PK

The water tank at the former crossing loop of The Risk, by PK.

Going through the old Border Loop area by PK.

The Water tank at Glenapp Loop by PK.

New set of dual gauge points going in at the southern end of Greenbank Loop, by PK.

Other end of the point, by PK.

What a fantastic day!  Great company with Darren and PK.